Mataupu
In the Deadpool movie, two characters wonder what this strange feeling is called when you feel anger and fear at the same time. “Zlotrach?” suggests one of them. Although this experience has no name (other than a movie joke), aggression and fear are related. When we are afraid, we need to defend ourselves – and aggression is in full swing, in different directions. In Chinese medicine, this phenomenon has a completely logical explanation. It, like any other emotion, is associated with the state of the body, which means that it can be removed with certain exercises.
All emotions we experience through the body. Without it, nowhere: neither to cry without lacrimal glands, nor to laugh without a respiratory system.
If you feel your body sensitively, then you know that between these two poles (funny – sad) there are many subtle shades of bodily sensations that characterize certain emotions. Warmth in the chest – when we meet loved ones or just think about them. Tension in the shoulders and neck – when we are uncomfortable in an unfamiliar company.
The body helps us express certain emotions, and for most of us, the diaphragms are “responsible” for anger with fear.
body diaphragms
In school anatomy, as a rule, one diaphragm is mentioned – the thoracic. This is the muscle that separates the chest and abdomen at the level of the solar plexus.
However, in addition to it, in our body there are several more similar “cross sections” – diaphragms. In particular, the pelvic (at the level of the pelvic floor) and subclavian – in the region of the collarbones. They are connected in a single system: if one diaphragm is tensed, the rest react to this voltage.
Here is a classic example of how fear at the level of the body is transformed into aggression.
“Where have you been?!”
Imagine a classic situation: a teenager goes for a walk with friends. He should be back by eight in the evening, but the clock is already ten, and he is not there – and the phone does not answer.
Mom, of course, calls friends, classmates and acquaintances. What is happening to her at the level of the body at this time? The pelvic diaphragm, against the background of the emotion of fear, enters hypertonicity: the stomach and lower back literally freeze, breathing does not pass there. The tension rises – and the abdominal diaphragm is pulled up. Breathing from deep becomes superficial: the diaphragm does not move against the background of tension, and only the upper sections of the lungs breathe.
The subclavian diaphragm is also included in the tension: the shoulders seem to want to reach the ears, the muscles of the shoulder girdle are like stone.
Mom, of course, does not notice all this, all her thoughts are concentrated on one thing: if only the child is found! Just to hug him again!
When we are frightened, all the diaphragms tighten and pull up, and the energy ceases to circulate properly.
And then this little terrorist returns home. And the mother, who thought she would hug the teenager, pounces on him with a cry: “Where have you been?! How could you?! No more step out of the house!”
What happened at the level of the body? In Chinese medicine, it is customary to talk about the vital energy qi – this is our fuel, which ideally should circulate evenly throughout the body. Energy travels through the body with blood, and the work of the circulatory system, in turn, depends on the quality of breathing.
When we are frightened, all the diaphragms tighten and pull up, and the energy stops circulating properly, rising to the chest and head. Angry, we seem to start to smoke: the face turns red, the ears burn, the hands do not find rest. This is what “energy boost” looks like.
Our body is very wise, it knows: the energy above threatens health (any hypertensive person will confirm this to you), which means that it is necessary to dump this excess of vitality. How? Showing aggression.
“Breathe, Shura, breathe”
The case described above is extreme. Like an acute illness: unexpected onset, abrupt development, rapid results. To abruptly stop such an attack of fear (provided that there is no threat to life), experts recommend a standard technique: stop and take 10 deep, measured breaths.
Deep breathing causes the abdominal diaphragm to move. It cannot be said that in this way it qualitatively relaxes, but at least it comes out of hyperspasm. Energy descends, clears up in the head.
However, under conditions of constant stress, such a “cast” of energy upward against the background of overstrain of all diaphragms can become chronic. A person is constantly in anxiety, the diaphragms of the body are constantly in excess tone, and there is less and less sympathy for others.
Special deep relaxed breathing allows not only to lower energy, but also to accumulate it, to create a reserve of strength
O le a le mea e fai i lenei tulaga?
First, to balance the state of the diaphragms, and for this you need to learn how to relax them. Any relaxation gymnastics will do, for example, qigong for the spine Sing Shen Juang. As part of this complex, there are exercises to find the tension of all three diaphragms: pelvic, thoracic and subclavian – and techniques for relaxing them.
Secondly, master the breathing practice that lowers the energy. Within the Chinese tradition, these are women’s Taoist practices or neigong – a special deep relaxed breathing that allows you not only to lower energy, but also to accumulate it, to create a reserve of strength.
Exercise to deal with anger and fear
To understand how breathing exercises work, try a simple exercise from the neigong course – “authentic breathing”. This is how we breathed at the age of three months: if you saw sleeping babies, you probably noticed that they were breathing with their whole body. Let’s try to restore this skill.
Sit upright on a chair or on pillows in Turkish style. Take a deep, relaxed breath into your belly. On inhalation, the abdomen expands; on exhalation, it gently contracts.
Direct your attention to the nose area, notice how the air enters inward. Spend this breath with attention, as if it flows down the spine down to the pelvis, enters the very bottom of the abdomen, and the stomach expands.
Breathe like this for 3-5 minutes and note how your state has changed. Have you become calmer? If you practice this breathing, you can control anxiety, fear and the aggression they cause. And then the background mood will become more calm and cheerful.